Baseball

CUA falls to Merchant Marine Academy 4-0 in tourney opener

May 05, 2012

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – CUA had a tough time getting its bats going on Saturday, and as a result the Cardinals fell to Merchant Marine Academy 4-0 in the opening round of the Landmark Conference Tournament. CUA managed only three hits off Mariners starter Andrew Martin, who went all nine innings to earn the win.

On a day when it could not generate anything on offense, CUA's first batter of the game, Tommy Little, ironically led off with a single. He was quickly cut down on a fielder's choice however, and the Cardinals could not push any runs across in the first.

USMMA scored its first run of the afternoon in the second when Nicholas Kopacka singled up the middle to plate Daniel Collins.

The Mariners added another run in the sixth when Warren Hartmann came across on a wild pitch.

A two-out single by Dave Grear in the seventh gave CUA some hope, but Colin McCarthy grounded into a fielder's choice, ending the inning.

In the eighth, CUA's Chris McCloud belted a double to left with two outs, and pinch hitter Wes Stonelake drew a walk to give the Cardinals two runners, but Little bounced back to the pitcher, ending any hope of a rally.

USMMA countered with two more insurance runs in the bottom of the inning, with Keil Silva scoring one, and Martin the other.

CUA then went down in order in the ninth, sending the Mariners to an opening round win.

CUA starter Andrew Carroll suffered the defeat, after he went 5.2 innings, struck out four and allowed two runs, while Martin was nearly unhittable for the Mariners, earning his fifth win of the year.

Collins led USMMA offensively with two hits and an RBI, while five other Mariners finished with one hit each.

CUA will now take on top-seed Moravian, which was upset by Drew earlier on Saturday. The Cardinals and Greyhounds will square off in an elimination game at 9 a.m. on Sunday in Bethlehem. The winner of that game will then play the loser of the Drew – Merchant Marine Academy game at 4 p.m. on Sunday.